Keeping Quiet

Lake is the new girl in town, she meets the quiet boy. A typical love story. Except she had friends in her mind that she talks to, and he isn’t quite who he says he is.

“You think coming here and apologizing solves it? Do you think it’s going to ease my pain? The pain you inflicted on me?” I yelled at him, my chest burning with all the pent up anger, waiting to be unleashed. Ashton reached out to touch me, but I slapped his hand away. Hurt flashed in his eyes, but I couldn’t care less. “I’m sorry, Helen. I promise to do better. Please, give me a second chance.” I scoffed. What a joke! “We are divorced, Ashton.” Ashton shook his head as if willing himself not to believe what I was saying. “I never sent you divorce papers, Hel. And…” he trailed off while I stared at him with creased brows. “We aren’t divorced. I never signed my part.” ***** For three years, Helen tried to be the perfect wife despite being labeled as incompetent, barren and worthless. She put up with her husband’s ignorance and mother-in-law’s insults for the sake of maintaining peace and keeping her marriage. But what she didn’t expect was a video of her husband in bed with his secretary on Christmas Eve when she planned to break the news of her pregnancy to him. And worse — His secretary threw a divorce paper which her husband had drafted at her face and asked her to beat it. When she couldn’t take it anymore, she left and returned six years later with dashing triplets. But what she didn’t expect was her husband wanting her back. As if that wasn’t enough, she was about to find out that there was more to what happened six years ago, and everything she thought she knew…were all lies. Will the holiday spirit be enough to bring them together again?

Zara and Mia, twin sisters with rare healing powers blessed by the Moon Goddess, are raised in Alpha Ryker's pack house after their abilities are discovered. Born to an omega mother, their lives dramatically change when they are chosen to secure the pack's future. However, rivalry, love, and betrayal complicate their fates. Zara, quiet and selfless, realizes Ryker, her childhood love, is her destined mate, but he is drawn to her manipulative sister, Mia. When a tragic accident leaves Mia critically injured and Zara accused of harm, Ryker rejects and exiles Zara, breaking her heart. Alone and stripped of her wolf connection, Zara flees to the human world, carrying a secret with her. In this unfamiliar world, Zara struggles with survival,However, a charming ally, Adrian, helps her uncover newfound strength. As pack rivalries escalate, Zara must confront her past and decide whether to reclaim her destiny or leave her former life behind.

"I didn’t even know it was yours! I never agreed to this—none of this was supposed to happen!" "Supposed to happen or not, that child is mine. And I don’t let what’s mine out of my sight." **** Clara had no choice other than selling her eggs to pay for her family's medical bills. But a mix-up lands her carrying the child of a dangerous Mafia lord, Mateo De Luca. Now, two months pregnant and trapped by her uncle’s debts, Clara faces the impossible choice of keeping her baby or losing everything. But Mateo isn’t done with her yet. He’s determined to find the woman carrying his heir—and when Clara realizes who the father is, everything changes.

Bleu is the illegitimate son of the alpha king. Not wanting the world to know his mistake, Bleu and his mother were banished by the king to the far end of the kingdom. Later losing his mother and growing up as a rogue, Bleu had become quiet and feral. He spent his days mostly in wolf form and was only focused on surviving. That was until he found a small, naked unconscious woman in the swamp.... His mother always told him stories of the beauty of having a mate. Could this female be a gift from the heavens? Hazel is the daughter of the duke and was being forced into a political marriage with the son of the alpha king. Deciding to run away, she flees but faints due to exhaustion. She wakes up to meet Bleu. A sweet feral wolf who happens to think that she was his mate.

Lilly Mae Graham wants nothing more than to graduate high school with her best friend and her boyfriend. However, when her brother found himself in debt to a dangerous criminal, she must seek the help of someone even more deadly. Little did she know that her simple life would get turned upside down, becoming one filled with pain, sex, violence and danger. Killian Black has watched Lilly from the shadows for five years, protecting her quietly and silently craving her, biding his time until he's ready to make her his. However, as luck would have it, his sexy little redhead vixen brought herself to him, offering him a deal that he just couldn't refuse. Unfortunately, keeping Lilly means exposing his weakness to his enemies. But what his enemies don't know, is Killian would set the world ablaze and watch it burn if anyone touches one strand of Lilly perfect red hair.

It's too cruel to say my destiny is not lucky. Maybe what is right to imply it is my destiny to be unlucky as you are. I introduce Sintia, the only child who was legally adopted as a biological child. For 35 years my life is full of twists and turns, you can say I am a person who is formed from a family that is Brochen Home, my escape is by pursuing hobbies and looking for as many friends as possible. I am more comfortable telling stories and sharing life stories with male friends. This is what makes them all friends but intimate in my life. The reason is simple, because a male friend is smart in keeping secrets and is good at giving positive advice. The story of my life continues to twist, like a beach blade. Whether it is family problems, problems with young friends who often bully, problems with love, work, household and others. I keep trying to find a good way out and I try to be strong and endure all the trials of life. How not to go crazy over it or kill yourself over it all. "True Story" Sintia Novel Series

Ezmira Franchild was adopted at the age of eleven. No one knew where this silent little girl originated from, all they knew was that she was found under an old broken-down bridge, curled up into a ball and trembling with fear. It took her an entire year before she began to speak again but once she did, she never spoke of where she came from or who her parents were... she simply clutched to the dirty old bag that she was found with and never allowed anyone to search it or take it from her. Years later, Ezmira is still a quiet child, living in a small town with her sister, Liza Franchild and trying to make the best of her life. Little did she know that her past was not something she could run from or ignore. Once a witch, forever a witch. “I'm afraid to live. I'm afraid to let people in again because I'd never know when they'd leave. My existence is a curse.” ~Ezmira “I've been cursed for many years, but you're the first curse that I've ever willingly accepted. If you're afraid just hold onto me, we can face our fears together.” ~Axil Book 1 of the Divinity Series.

Celine is an assistant scientist to the genius but coldhearted Dr. Drake Cole. The doctor happened to specialize in quantum physics and time travel. He invented time travel gadgets that will allow humans to travel back and forth through time. It's a portable device compared to a bulky time machine. She's the only assistant who's willing to test these time travel gadgets. Her reason is that she would like to go back to the past where she wants to save the love of her life. He was murdered but the suspect was not convicted. She wants to bring him back to life so that she can be with her college sweetheart once again. Little did she know that Dr. Cole is keeping a secret that is related to her past. That's why he is against the idea of her going back to the past to test the gadget. She's very persistent and willing to do anything just to change the past of her lover. But it's against the rule of time travel and they will both have to face the consequences of their actions. Will Celine be successful in changing her lover's past? Or will she end up falling for the genius scientist in the present? She will be confused but don't care even if time can affect what will happen to her future. All she knows is that she has to go back to the past so that she can move on and live in her present.

The things we want are so very rarely the things we need. Clifton Heights, a modest Adirondack town, offers many unique attractions. Arcane Delights sells both paperbacks and hard-to-find limited editions. The Skylark Diner serves the best home-cooked meals around, with friendly service and a smile. Every August, Mr. Jingo’s County Fair visits, to the delight of children and adults. In essence, Clifton Heights is the quintessential small American town. Everyone knows everyone else, and everyone is treated like family. It is quiet, simple, and peaceful. But shadows linger here. Flitting in dark corners, from the corner of the eye. If you walk down Main Street after dark, the slight scrape of shoes on asphalt whispers you're not alone, but when you look over your shoulder, no one is there. The moon shines high and bright in the night sky, but instead of throwing light, it only seems to make the shadows lengthen. Children disappear. Teens run away. Hunters get lost in the woods with frightening regularity. Husbands go mad, and wives vanish in the dead of night. And still, when the sun rises in the morning, you are greeted by townspeople with warm waves and friendly smiles, and the shivers pass as everything seems fresh and new... Until night falls once more. Handy's Pawn and Thrift sits several blocks down from Arcane Delights. Like any thrift store, its wares range from the mundane to the bizarre. By daylight, it seems just another slice of small town Americana. But in its window hangs a sign which reads: We Have Things You Need. And when a lonely traveling salesman comes looking for something he desperately wants, after normal visiting hours, after night has fallen, he will face a harsh truth among the shelves of Handy’s Pawn and Thrift: the things we want are rarely the things we need. ©️ Crystal Lake Publishing